Appliance support means

ABSTRACT

A snap-in appliance support system comprises a metal bracket having an L-shaped cross section. The vertical part of the Lshape is formed from a plate having a plurality of nail holes for mounting the bracket. The horizontal part of the L-shape carries a clip-in latch. At the lower peripheral end of the L-shape, the vertical plate has a C-shaped channel for pivotally supporting an appliance housing which swings up and under the horizontal plate to snap in to the latch.

Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee States Pate t Gordon S. Nelson Union, llll.

Mar. 31, 1970 Dec. 114, 197 1 Aubrey Manufacturing, 1m.

lUnlon, 111.

APPLMNCE SUPPORT MEANS 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

llnt. Cl

Field! 01 Search [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,353,365 7/1944 Sanford 243/316 2,681,164 6/1954 Kalfen 248/31 1 X 2,825,042 2/1958 Tollefson et al. 248/316 X 3,061,258 10/1962 Grenier 248/223 Primary Examiner-J1 Franklin Foss Attorney-Alter, Weiss & Whitesel ABSTRACT: A snap-in appliance support system comprises a metal bracket having an L-shaped cross section. The vertical part of the L-shape is formed from a plate having a plurality of nail holes for mounting the bracket. The horizontal part of the L-shape carries a clip-in latch. At the lower peripheral end of the L-shape, the vertical plate has a C-shaped channel for pivotally supporting an appliance housing which swings up and under the horizontal plate to snap in to the latch.

PATENTEU um I 41971 FIGS INVENTGR GORDON S. NELSON ATTORNEYS APPLIANCE SUPPORT s This invention relates to appliance support brackets and more particularly to means for universally supporting appliances on a single wall-like surface.

The invention finds utility in connection with many dif ferent types of appliances mounted in many different environments. However, it is instructive to select a particular appliance and a particular environment, by way of example. Therefore, the appliance is hereinafter referred to as an electrical exhaust fan, and the environment is described as a joist mounting. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to this particular example. Quite the contrary, it will find many different uses.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to suspend an exhaust fan by means of a bridging mount between two joists. However, this suspension has presented a number of problems. For example, there is a nonunifonn spacing between joists; hence, it has been necessary to provide bridge supports of adjustable widths. Another problem occurs since a worker must use two hands to attach the bridge mount on the two sides of the joists, and this is difiicult after the walls are in place. The attachment of the fan to the bridge normally requires a number of nuts and bolts, plus a clearance space above the bridge, which makes it awkward to replace the fan. The bridge method is not flexible, and it is difficult to match the fan into duct work. Still other existing problems will readily occur to those who are skilled in the art.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide new and improved appliance mounting brackets. In particular, an object is to provide universal brackets which enable the appliances to be mounted either on a left-hand or a right-hand side. Here, an object is to provide snap-in construction.

Another object is to provide low-cost brackets, made on general purpose tools, with little or no need for more than a minimum number of special purpose tools, jigs, or dies.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for mounting exhaust fans on 2 x 8 inch joists, either during new building construction or thereafter in existing buildings. Here an object is to make it easy to fit the fans to existing duct work with vents on either the left or the right. In this connection, an object is to provide a solid, nonvibrating support.

Still another object is to provide lightweight mounting structures made from low cost, noncritical, readily available materials. I

In keeping with an aspect of this invention, these and other objects are accomplished by means of a snap-in bracket having a somewhat L-shaped" cross section. The vertical plane of the L-shaped cross section is a plate having a number of mounting holes which facilitate nailing or other attachment to a vertical joist or wall. The horizontal plane of the L-shaped cross section is a plate having a snap-in latch comprising an opening therein. At the opposite end of the vertical part of the L-section there is a peripheral section which forms a mounting channel. The housing of the appliance has an upstanding boss which fits into the opening in the horizontal plate. Theopposite side of the housing has a flange plate which fits into the mounting channel. Therefore, it is only necessary to nail the vertical plate to a joist, for example. Then the flange on the housing is fitted into the mounting channel. Thereafter, the appliance is rotated until the boss snaps into the opening.

The nature of a preferred embodiment for accomplishing these and other objects may become more apparent from the following description of the attached drawings, in which,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inventive bracket attached to a joist;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an appliance being rotated into position in the bracket of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the appliance in the bracket, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view looking down upon the bracket and appliance of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view which shows the appliance mounted on its opposite side, as compared with the side of mounting shown in FIG. 3.

The inventive principles are drawn in FIG. l by means of a bracket Ml nailed, or otherwise attached, at Ill, 112, 113 to a joist or other support M. The bracket has a generally L- shaped cross section with the vertical arm 115 of the L-shape defining a plane in which the attachment is made. The horizontal arm 116 of the L-shape defines a plane containing catch means in the form of an opening 17 for receiving a boss on an appliance housing. The edge of horizontal plane 16 is bent upwardly at 19 along the length of the bracket to guide the appliance housing under the plate 19. The opposite end of the L-shape is doubled back upon itself, at a pivot support point, to form a somewhat C-shaped mounting channel 20 running along the length of the bracket.

The bracket may be made from any suitable material. For

example, it may be a single piece of a somewhat springy folded sheet metal. Preferably, the sheet metal is arched in the horizontal plane in the area II in order to give a snap or clip action.

FIG. 2 shows an exhaust fan 30 as an exemplary appliance. While the details of this particular appliance are not overly important to the invention, it should be noted that the housing 31 may be made from any suitable material, such as a strong-and lightweight molded plastic, for example. One end 32 of the housing includes a chamber; for example, for a squirrel cage blower, an impeller fan, or other device for giving a quiet and efficient ventilation. The other end 33 of the housing is formed to fit into suitable duct work, such as a 3-inch round duct, for example. A suitable back-draft damper may be included, as required.

The top of the housing has two upstanding bosses 34, 34', formed integrally therein. Each boss is shaped to fit into and complement the contours of the opening 117 in the horizontal plane of the L-shaped cross section. The distances a and b are equal to the distance 0 so that either side of the housing 30 may fit under the horizontal plate 116 of the bracket and still allow the boss 34 or 34' to fit snuggly into the opening 17.

The lower side of the housing 30 is attached to a platform 35. As best seen in FIG. 3, each opposing side wall 37, 38, of the platform 35 is shaped and dimensioned to fit into the channel 20 as seen in FIGS. 2-5. Here the duct 33 extends outwardly toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. When the housing is rotated by the sidewall 38 fits into the channel 20, as seen in FIG. 5. Then, the duct 33 would project outwardly to the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 2.

Upon reflection, it should be obvious that the housing 30 may be fitted into the channel 20 with the vent projecting outwardly to either the left or right. Then, the housing 30 is swung upwardly to pivot about the channel 20 and in the direction of the arrow 40. The upward bend at 19 guides the horizontal bracket plate 16 up and over the housing 30 until the boss 34 or 34' snaps into the hole 17. The relative dimensions a, b, and c are such that there is a snug fit, and the fan is held firmly with no vibrations in the ceiling.

The advantages of the invention should now be apparent to those who are skilled in the art. The vertical bracket plate 15 may be made to fit any convenient wall mounting. Templates or depth gages may help facilitate positioning and attachment of the bracket to the wall or joist. The snap-in feature allows quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the appliance, thereby saving time and money. The platform 35 provides a support for an attractive light or grill which may be adapted to drop down for easy cleaning or servicing.

Still other advantages will readily occur to those who are skilled in the art.

The foregoing description uses the orientation terms horizontal and vertical, left and right since this usage provides a concrete example. However, it should be understood that other orientations could also be used. For example, the bracket could be mounted vertically and the duct 33 could run upwardly or downwardly. Also, various other modifications are possible. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the true invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by letters patent in the US, is:

1. An appliance mounting device comprising a snap-in bracket made of a somewhat springy material having a generally L-shaped cross section, means for attaching one plane of said L-shape to a support, snap-in latch means comprising a cut out opening in the other plane of said L-shape,

said appliance housing having two oppositely disposed sides, a pair of bosses formed on one of said housing sides with each of said bosses being positioned a predetermined distance from an individually associated one of two oppositely disposed edges of said one side,

the other of said housing sides having a pair of spaced parallel edges vertically oriented uniformly with respect to said individually associated ones of the two oppositely disposed edges of said one side;

said opening having a shape and a contour matching either of two bosses formed on said one side of the matching surface of the appliance housing, and

channel means associated with said one plane for providing a pivot support for receiving means associated with one of said edges on either side of the appliance housing which means fits into said channel, whereby said appliance housing side may be fitted into said channel pivot support and said housing may then be swung to cause said snap-in latch means to positively lock over said boss to hold said housing in place.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1 wherein said other plane of said bracket comprises a bent member at the outward edge to guide the plate up and over the boss on the appliance housing until the cut out latch means snaps over the boss.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 2 wherein said bracket in said other plane comprises an arched member giving a spring action to said bracket.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 3 wherein said pivot support means comprises a somewhat C-shaped channel running along the entire length of said bracket to receive the entire attachment side of said housing.

5. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said other plane is a horizontal plate shaped to ride up and snap over a matching one of said bosses and said one side is the top side of an appliance housing when one of said parallel edges is positioned in and pivoting about said channel.

6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein said plates and matching parts are symmetrical in a plurality of dimensions so that said matching part may be snapped into said bracket with any one of several different orientations. 

1. An appliance mounting device comprising a snap-in bracket made of a somewhat springy material having a generally L-shaped cross section, means for attaching one plane of said L-shape to a support, snap-in latch means comprising a cut out opening in the other plane of said L-shape, said appliance housing having two oppositely disposed sides, a pair of bosses formed on one of said housing sides with each of said bosses being positioned a predetermined distance from an individually associated one of two oppositely disposed edges of said one side, the other of said housing sides having a pair of spaced parallel edges vertically oriented uniformly with respect to said individually associated ones of the two oppositely disposed edges of said one side; said opening having a shape and a contour matching either of two bosses formed on said one side of the matching surface of the appliance housing, and channel means associated with said one plane for providing a pivot support for receiving means associated with one of said edges on either side of the appliance housing which means fits into said channel, whereby said appliance housing side may be fitted into said channel pivot support and said housing may then be swung to cause said snap-in latch means to positively lock over said boss to hold said housing in place.
 2. The mounting bracket of claim 1 wherein said other plane of said bracket comprises a bent member at the outward edge to guide the plate up and over the boss on the appliance housing until the cut out latch means snaps over the boss.
 3. The mounting bracket of claim 2 wherein said bracket in said other plane comprises an arched member giving a spring action to said bracket.
 4. The mounting bracket of claim 3 wherein said pivot support means comprises a somewhat C-shaped channel running along the entire length of said bracket to receive the entire attachment side of said housing.
 5. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said other plane is a horizontal plate shaped to ride up and snap over a matching one of said bosses and said one side is the top side of an appliance housing when one of said parallel edges is positioned in and pivoting about said channel.
 6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein said plates and matching parts are symmetricaL in a plurality of dimensions so that said matching part may be snapped into said bracket with any one of several different orientations. 